Antarctic/Artic Cell

Coordinator: Dr. Geeta Vichare
Team members: Mr. Sarvesh Chandra
 

Introduction

India has set up and operates two research stations in Antarctica. One is Maitri, a sub-auroral station (equatorward of the Auroral Zone), and the second is Bharati Larsemann Hills, poleward of the Auroral Zone. IIG has been regularly participating in Antarctic expeditions since the beginning. IIG also participated in a couple of Arctic expeditions for glacier studies.

IIG runs several experiments at the two Antarctic stations to investigate the space weather and auroral dynamics over Antarctica. Understanding the declining geomagnetic field is another area that has gathered enough attention in the recent past. The Institute continues to monitor the geomagnetic field at these two Antarctic stations.

Instruments and locations

Instruments / Experiments at  MAITRI station (70.77⁰ S, 11.75⁰ E)

1. Proton Precession Magnetometer (PPM)
2. Digital Fluxgate Magnetometer (DFM)
3. Declination – Inclination Magnetometer (DIM)
4. Induction Coil Magnetometer (ICM)
5. Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver
6. RIO meter
7. All Sky Imager
8. VLF receiver
9. Maxwell antenna for GEC
10.  Air–earth current antenna for GEC
11. Electric field mill for GEC
12. Near earth currents: 
13. Long wire and Plate antennae.
14. Air Ion counter
15. Automatic Weather Station (AWS)

Instruments / Experiments at BHARATI (69.41⁰ S, 76.19⁰ E)

1.  Proton Precession Magnetometer (PPM)
2.  Digital Fluxgate Magnetometer (DFM)
3.  Induction Coil Magnetometer (ICM)
4.  Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver
5.  VLF receiver (non-functional, to be replaced)
6.  Electric field mill for GEC
7. Automatic Weather Station (AWS)

Contact details

• Dr. Geeta Vichare,
  geeta[dot]vichare[at]iigm[dot]res[dot]in